Kings On A Roll

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel ended the eliminations at the top of the standings after beating then leader Petron Blaze Boosters. When was the last time Ginebra emerged as the no. 1 team after the eliminations? Getting Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar seems to be paying off for the Kings. The Twin Tower combination of Ginebra have continuously logged in double-double numbers game in game out. With the two manning the middle, Ginebra has rolled to five straight wins since absorbing their only loss at the hands of the Bolts.

Aside from Greg and Japeth, Ginebra is also getting consistent contributions from Mac Barracael and Chris Ellis. Josh Urbiztondo is also starting to get his game back. Eman Monfort has been a revelation as well. He may not be scoring but his hustle reminds me so much of Rudy Hatfield. Not to mention the team's veteran unit of Jayjay Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa. Jay-R Reyes has also delivered solid numbers for the Kings.

Ginebra fans have been used to seeing their team struggling in the early rounds and make a late run in the latter rounds. At the start of the new season, Ginebra seems to have made a significant change-- steamrolling their opponents and finding their way at the top of the mountain. A few more wins and they will move to the next round. Here is hoping that they sustain their strong run in the eliminations and take that momentum all the way to the Finals.

Off To A Great Start

Three games done and Ginebra is still unbeaten. After dominating the Mixers and the Elasto Painters, Ginebra had a huge scare before vintage Caguioa delivered at crunch time against the rookies of Global Port to go 3-0.

It has been the strongest start of Ginebra in years. I have been used to seeing them drop one game after the other in the early goings of a conference before coming back strong in the homestretch. Certainly a good sign for the team aching to end their six-year title drought. 

Getting Japeth in a trade last year was the start of it all. Drafting Slaughter was the second step. Now Ginebra has a potent Twin Tower combination similar to the Aquino-Feihl tandem of the 90's. The only difference is that Greg and Japeth are more mobile than Marlou and EJ. 

With two big men manning the middle, the likes of LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa, Chris Ellis,and Jayjay Helterbrand is now more confident to take outside shots or drive to the lane knowing that there will be someone who will pick up the rebound. 

So far so good as far as Slaughter is concerned. Contrary to criticisms that he is slow and will not thrive in the run and gun offense of Ginebra, the 7-foot former Blue Eagle has wrecked havoc on both offense and defense. Three games in he has churned in double-double games game in and game out. In three games, he has averaged 15 points, 13 rebounds,and 2 blocks per outing. 

Japeth has also delivered consistent numbers for the Kings. He has shined both offensively and defensively. He is truly comfortable playing the power forward spot. Mark and LA has delivered their usual numbers. There are other guys who will provide the points whenever they are fielded in. 

Fans are looking up in the standings for a change after the first three games. Hoping that this is finally the year when the Kings finally reclaim their throne. 

Pinning Their Hopes On Greg

Fans expectation went sky high during draft day when Barangay Ginebra drafted 7 foot Gilas stalwart Greg Slaughter. For years, the man in the middle has been the problem of Ginebra ever since the departure of Eric Menk and Marlou Aquino. Since then, there had been a huge gaping hole in Ginebra's interior defense. Without a legitimate center, opponents have made mince meat of their defense. 

Ginebra had made moves to fill up that hole in the middle. Last year, they took in the likes of Yousef Taha and Kerby Raymundo. Due to lack of playing time, Taha did not fulfill that requirement and was traded for Japeth Aguilar. At 6'9", it seems that he would finally be the one to fill up that requirement. But he was injured and Ginebra was not able to make it to the later rounds. 

Coming in to Draft Day, fans became excited on the prospect of having a 7 footer playing for their beloved team. First of all, a 7 footer comes once in a blue moon. The last time Ginebra had one was during the 90's with EJ Feihl. Also, Slaughter had good credentials prior to his awaited entry into the pro leagues. A champion player in college and in the D-League, it seems that Greg would finally be the so-called "savior" for Ginebra. 

And so it happened. The 7-foot Gilas player is now officially a ka-Barangay. With his entry, Ginebra's throngs of die hard fans finally have a reason to hope that the team's title drought would finally be quenched. Marlou Aquino gave Ginebra a championship and won Rookie of the Year. Eric Menk gave the barangay a championship and became MVP. Will Slaughter follow suit and end Ginebra's six year title drought? Fans are hoping that he would. 

Deja Vu For Barangay Ginebra

I have seen this image over and over again so I think I know how this will end. With a 1-3 record, Barangay Ginebra is once again down at the bottom of the standings. This is not unfamiliar territory for the Kings. In fact, they have been through these kind of situations several times before. What happened? They manage to find a way to get out of the bottom.

Just last conference, Ginebra went on a 0-4 start. This was due to a bad choice of import. So people started to write off the Kings for that conference. Even us Ginebra fans went to the point of doubting whether or not the team can still recover from their predicament. Enter Vernon Macklin.

Vernon Macklin saved Ginebra's campaign for that conference. After losing his opening game, V-Mack then powered the Kings to six straight wins. There was feasting and merrymaking all over social networks and forums. But just as fans were on a high, the Kings stumbled to three straight losses. What made matters worst was they they ended up as the number 7 seed with a twice-to-win disadvantage.

Gauged against Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals, the Kings relied on the time machine brought by Jayjay Helterbrand in Game 1 and the nerves of steel of Macklin in Game 2 to do the unthinkable-- come back from a twice-to-beat disadvantage. They went on to beat Talk n Text 3-2 in the semifinals but was swept by the Aces in the Finals.

Fast forward to the Governor's Cup, Barangay Ginebra is back in the same predicament. Already without big man Kerby Raymundo, Ginebra also lost new acquisition Japeth Aguilar to strained MCL which will sideline him for about 4 weeks.

The current conference is just a single round affair so every win is important. With just 5 games remaining in their schedule, Barangay Ginebra needs to once again summon their "never say die" spirit to bounce back. Without a big man, teamwork will be the key to boosting Ginebra's chances for this conference. They have done it before and I believe they can do it again.

Letting Go Of The Kid

In what will go down as the "most shocking news" since the retirement of Rudy Hatfield, Barangay Ginebra is parting ways with Kerby Raymundo, one of the major pieces in its Finals run last conference. The news was all over social media networks like Facebook and Twitter and was met by mixed reactions. After all, every Ginebra fan remember the big contribution the former Letran Knight had last conference.

As it is, Kerby would be Air 21 bound for shooting big man James Sena and the Express' 2014 first round pick. The former JRU Bomber comes as a bonus but it is the latter that got Ginebra "agreeing in principle" to the proposed trade. The 2014 draft would have talents like Bobby Ray Parks, Cris Banchero, Stanley Pringle, Kevin Alas, or even Kiefer Ravena.

What saddened Ginebra faithfuls is the fact that Kerby's real potential has returned. I mean everyone knows how he made life miserable for the big men of Rain or Shine in their quarterfinal showdown as well as in their semifinals encounter with Talk n Text.

I guess the trigger that made management agree to trading Kerby is the arrival of Japeth Aguilar. Both play the same position but the advantage of Japeth is he is 6'9" yet very athletic. Aside from that, Kerby is injured while Japeth is coming off a very successful stint with the national team. In addition, Ginebra is also planning to reactivate Eric Menk from the inactive list which makes trading Kerby justifiable.

But apparently the Kerby trade does not end there. After being released to Air 21, the Express will release The Kid to the Bolts along with Mike Cortez for Mark Cardona and the rights to Asi Taulava. Everyone knows that Ginebra management salivates at the thought of having The Rock in their lineup. The opportunity knocked via Kerby Raymundo.

Although it is still up for the approval of Commissioner Chito Salud, it is more likely that Kerby will no longer be wearing the Ginebra uniform when he returns from injury. Like every Ginebra fan, I am deeply saddened with his departure but that's basketball. So thank you Kerby and good luck.

Silver Shining Like Gold

Last week, PBA fans witnessed history unfold as the Gilas Pilipinas put the country back in the world basketball map by beating South Korea in the semifinals of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship held at the Mall of Asia Arena from August 1- 11. It was perhaps the biggest day in the history of Philippine basketball as the Gilas squad defeated the Koreans 86-79 behind the hot hands of skipper Jimmy Alapag.

For years, the Koreans have been a thorn on the side of the Philippine basketball team. In the Asian basketball scene, Korea denied Team Philippines of several chances to glory. In the 2002 Asian Games, Cho Sang Min's buzzer beating three point shot broke the heart of many Filipinos. It denied the Philippines the bronze medal. In the 2011 Wuhan FIBA Asia Championship, it was another three point shot that dashed the Filipino's hopes of making it to the 2012 World Championships.

With those stinging losses still fresh in the mind of Gilas Pilipinas, Team Philippines engaged the Koreans in a tight battle until the end. At first, it looked like history would repeat itself as Korea stormed to a two point lead 75-73 behind the hot hands of Kim Mingoo who led a Korean comeback from 10 points down. Skipper Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo then took charge and gave Gilas a five point cushion at 84-79.Kim Mingoo had another open look but Gabe Norwood blocked his shot and Marc Pingris sealed the win with a follow-up of a Castro miss. The Filipinos finally defeated the Koreans. With that win, they make a return trip to the FIBA World Championships.

It was mission accomplished for Gilas Pilipinas. Although they fell to Haddadi and company in the Finals 85-71, they finished off what they wanted in the first place and that is book a seat in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. Iran bagged the gold but the silver medal of Gilas Pilipinas glittered like gold for the Filipinos. It was the fruit of a decades long dream of playing in the big stage.

So see you in Spain Team Philippines!

Rebuilding For The Future

 After their 1st runner-up finish in the recently concluded Commissioner's Cup, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel went down to business and renewed their rebuilding process. They started by acquiring Josh Urbiztondo from Barako Bull in place of Keith Jensen. Their most recent acquisition is Japeth Aguilar in place of Yousef Taha and a 2013 first round pick.

It is common knowledge that Ginebra's glaring weakness ever since is a dominant big man in the mold of an Eric Menk or a Marlou Aquino. This weakness was quite glaring during the Finals series when Ginebra had no one to match up with Sonny Thoss. While Japeth may not have the post moves of Menk or Aquino, he has the defense and intimidation factor. He also has a decent shot from the outside and can drive strong to the basket. He is like a Cris Bosh.

Reportedly, Ginebra is not yet done tinkering with their line-up as they are keen on getting Asi Taulava. The problem is he is still under contract with the Bolts. Ginebra is really keen on getting the services of the 2013 ABL MVP to man the slot for them. I know they will move mountains to bring Asi to their fold. 

Clearly, Ginebra is rebuilding for its future. With the core of its team already reaching the twilight of their careers, Coach Alfrancis Chua is starting to inject young blood in its line-up. The likes of Chris Ellis, Dylan Ababou, Mac Barracael, LA Tenorio, and now Japeth Aguilar is set to become the "future of Ginebra." Hopefully this new line-up will bring more championships to the franchise.